Oil leak... Help apprecitated.

e99coalbaron · Feb 9, 2012

I noticed a large puddle of oil underneath my truck today. Its coming from somewhere on the drivers side of the block. It may be the oil cooler, but i just replaced 1k miles ago. Any ideas or other suggestions?

e99coalbaron · Feb 15, 2012

4cstr · Feb 15, 2012

The first thing I would do is crawl up onto the motor and see if the valley is full of oil. If it is you may be dealing with a weeping oil galley plug...or turbo o-ring. If the valley appears to be dry...I would then check under the truck and see what there is. It could be the oil cooler...it could be the oil filter has backed off just a bit.

e99coalbaron · Feb 15, 2012

Didn't check the valley, but oil filter is definitely tight. Its on the drivers side of the motor below the oil cooler, covering the motor mount, block, pan, and finally falling onto the front axle and then to the ground.

moose99psd · Feb 19, 2012

e99coalbaron said:
Didn't check the valley, but oil filter is definitely tight. Its on the drivers side of the motor below the oil cooler, covering the motor mount, block, pan, and finally falling onto the front axle and then to the ground.

did you figure it out yet? could be you knicked a oil cooler oring and it took that milage to break, clean everything off rear good make sure its good on oil start it up and idle it and see if you can see where its leaking. it may be such a minor leak that it took 1k miles to notice it.

e99coalbaron · Feb 19, 2012

Still haven't found it. It does not leak when idling. I let it idle for about 30 min and observed and found nothing. But everyday at school, i see a wet spot on my front axle..

moose99psd · Feb 19, 2012

sure its not an axle seal leak? is it by the tire?

moose99psd · Feb 19, 2012

have you cleaned everything off good so you can see whats wet with oil?

Zaairman · Feb 19, 2012

You sure its not a fuel leak? I've dealt with nearly every type of leak on these trucks, and unless its the front oil cooler gaskets/oring going bad, you're not going to get any oil directly on the axle. When the rear oil cooler gasket leaks, it blows back and comes down the oil filter. Drips some on the sway bar, but mostly under the truck, towards the center. There is a fuel line on the front of the motor that likes to rust out and leak... it could be leaking while driving and blowing back on the axle. Get under the truck, and wipe everything off real good that's covered in oil. Then drive it and take a look.

e99coalbaron · Feb 20, 2012

Not an axle leak, its on the top of the axle tube. And its not fuel, its oil. It appears to run down the crossmember from somewhere on the drivers side. And there is some on the oil filter, but the majority is on the crossmember and axle. I want to make sure its the oil cooler before I tear it all apart, since I drive it daily and have no alternative vehicle.

golfer · Feb 20, 2012

e99coalbaron said:
Didn't check the valley, but oil filter is definitely tight. Its on the drivers side of the motor below the oil cooler, covering the motor mount, block, pan, and finally falling onto the front axle and then to the ground.

check the engine valley first...

if the valley is DRY, then that will rule out a ton of other possible sources...